# God Be with It explained — Facing the Flag

> Chapter companion for Facing the Flag by Jules Verne.

## What happens

Simon Hart, imprisoned in the pirate lair of Back Cup, observes the power of Thomas Roch's fulgurator as it is used to blast a tunnel through the cavern wall. He devises a plan to send a message in a keg through the submarine tunnel during low tide, hoping it will reach the outside world and expose Ker Karraje's operations. After several anxious attempts, the keg is swept away by the current, carrying his plea for rescue.

## Themes in this chapter

### Imprisonment and Escape

Hart's desperate attempt to send a message in a keg represents a bid for escape from the pirate stronghold.

### Technology and Destruction

Roch's fulgurator demonstrates immense destructive power, used to blast through solid rock.

### Piracy and Criminality

Ker Karraje's pirate band operates from Back Cup, using advanced technology to commit crimes with impunity.

## Character check-ins

### Simon Hart

Narrator and prisoner; observes the fulgurator's power and devises the keg message plan.

### Engineer Serko

Supervises the tunnel blasting and displays ironic cordiality toward Hart.

### Thomas Roch

Works in his laboratory; his fulgurator is used to blast the tunnel.

### Ker Karraje

Pirate leader; mentioned as the true identity of Count d'Artigas and the target of Hart's message.

## Key lines

> God be with it!

May divine providence guide this keg to safety.

_Hart's fervent prayer as he launches the keg into the current._

> The pickaxes hardly made any impression on the rock, but its disaggregation was effected with really remarkable facility by means of the fulgurator.

While pickaxes failed, the fulgurator easily shattered the rock into fine dust.

_Demonstrates the superior power of Roch's explosive._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/facing_the_flag_se/chapters/xiii-god-be-with-it
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/facing_the_flag_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/facing_the_flag_se/chapters